Crow was about to head off for his afternoon hunt when he noticed Anna under the oak tree. She was writing in a different notepad today. His tummy was making that familiar noise, telling him it was time, but curiosity got the better of him.

He slowly approached her as he noticed the satisfied look on her face.

Crow asked, “ G’day Anna, what are you writing today?”

Anna responded, “ I am writing wedding vows.”

Craw didn’t know where to start with his questions and felt betrayed ” Who is he? When did he propose? Why am I hearing this now? Am I not your best friend? Who is the ring bearer?

Anna felt Crow’s surprise and disappointment.

So she explained. “  Crow, I am not getting married. I am writing the vows that I would like my future husband to make to me. This will remind me that I shouldn’t settle and deserve someone worthy of me. “

Crow got comfortable on a nice warm rock next to Anna as she began to read what she had scribbled on the page.

Wedding Vows

Dear Anna, this is a special day for both of us, and I believe this moment is the most precious of them all. The moment we make a promise to each other, to have and to hold; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.

First, I would like to start with precisely what you mean to me. You are many things to me, Anna, but one thing that I am truly grateful for is you being my biggest cheerleader and sometimes the only cheerleader in the arena.

The love you have for me in that big heart of yours has made me realise that I have so much to offer the world and how important and grateful I should be for my life.

Your abundant love has made me realise that it is not too late to go after my dreams. I just needed to believe in myself; your love gave me the willpower I needed to dust myself and stand up again. Your love protected and healed me when life threw strong punches at me. But, most importantly, your love reminds me that I am enough and worthy of being loved. Anna, your love is my morning cup of coffee and warm blanket.

You use a giant cup you own to share your love with the people around you. So Anna, on this day, I promise that I will make sure that your heart will never be empty of that love you so generously give to everyone. I will try my best to fill your heart with the pure love and affection you never hesitate to give away.   I will try my best to show you every day that the love you hold so dear in your life does not give you any pain or disappointment.

Also, I promise to hold your hand when you watch The Notebook and Love Actually every weekend, to tell you that you look beautiful even when you feel like your pants feel tighter around your waist and reassure you it’s not you or anything you have done when our neighbour or postman does not smile at you like they usually do.

I promise to make sure our home is free of judgments and prejudices. A space you can open up about a memory that haunts you or fears you have about the future or share something you said or did that you are not proud of.

Anna, I want you to know that you don’t even have to pretend with me. Your weakness and flaws make me love you even more. Imperfections that you think will push people away and make me love you deeper and deeper. Your imperfections make you more beautiful in my eyes.

Anna paused and sighed.

Crow noticed her hand was trembling as she turned the page and continued to read.

When we journey this life together, I know life will throw many stones at us; there will be days when we will doubt our love and our marriage and days when I fall short or disappoint you. But,  I want to let you know that we will always find our way back to each other whatever challenge we go through and that I will never forget how you made me feel the first time I saw you.

The green floral dress you had on, your dark brown curls, bright eyes, smile, red lips, and the way the sun was shining on your face.

One look at you and I knew it, I knew things would never be the same again, and I knew it was you who I am going to grow old with.

So my darling Anna, finally, I would like to say that I love you with every piece of my heart and that I promise to stand by you every moment of your life. I thank you for choosing me to do life with you.

THE END

Anna stared at the sky for a few minutes before putting her notepad in her backpack and standing up.

Crow jumped onto her shoulder as he knew Anna needed him, and he knew she deserved to hear every bit of what she had written.